Break the Silence – Stop the Violence Crime-Walk & Peace Rally
For Immediate Release: September 4, 2012
RE: Crime Stoppers Month and the Break the Silence – Stop the Violence Crime Walk and Peace Rally
September 1st marks the official launch of Crime Stoppers Month. The more than 1,000 Crime Stoppers programs around the world are holding events to kick off September as Crime Stoppers Month. Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa will host the “Break the Silence, Stop the Violence” Crime-walk and Peace Rally on September 22, 2012 as part of their celebration of Crime Stoppers month. Crime Stoppers now operates in some 26 countries around the world including over 350 local Crime Stoppers programs throughout the United States that have a common goal to resolve crime through anonymous tips. Crime Stoppers USA is a membership driven organization providing oversight and services to local Crime Stoppers programs.
“Our focus today remains similar to when the Crime Stoppers started in 1976, and that is to make our communities safer and more secure for everyone,” stated K. Scott Abrams, Chairman of Crime Stoppers USA. “Crime Stoppers brings together businesses, citizens, law enforcement and the media to combat crime. It is important for the criminal element to know members of the community are watching and reporting their activities.”
Abrams indicated that the vision and goal of Crime Stoppers is to provide an environment where people can live, work, study and feel safe in their own communities, neighborhoods and schools. He said the Crime Stoppers concept also encourages a cooperative partnership between the police, the media and the community to ensure security and enhance our quality of life.
Crime Stoppers has helped solve over 946,000 crimes across the nation. By encouraging citizens to help reduce crime by combining media awareness, monetary rewards in anonymity for informants, Crime Stoppers has created an effective method for solving crimes and helping citizens take back control over their neighborhoods.
Jodie Powell-Rohner, CEO/Executive Director of Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa, agreed with the Chairman of Crime Stoppers USA that Crime Stoppers has become a useful weapon in the arsenal police have in the battle against crime. Our program was launched in 1983 and since then our tips have been responsible for resolving numerous crimes including serious assaults, including sexual attacks, robberies, break-ins and even homicides.”The community members and volunteers who help run our Crime Stoppers program are dedicated individuals and have a common goal to ensure our community is safe,” said Powell-Rohner. “We are proud of our success and pleased to be part of a national organization that has achieved such phenomenal results on a collective basis.”
Lt. Glenn Hauck of the Hammond Police Department and Tip Coordinator of Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa, said the work of investigators must also be recognized in the success of the Crime Stoppers program. Hauck said the work and effort that detectives and other police officers put into investigating various tips is crucial to ensuring that cases are solved and those responsible for crime are brought to justice. “It is important for people to call tips to Crime Stoppers, but it’s essential that investigators methodically follow-up on the information to gather all available evidence and identify criminals who committed the crimes,” he said.
In recognition of Crime Stoppers Month, Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa, in partnership with the City of Hammond, the Hammond Police Department, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Tangipahoa Social & Civic Clubs United, local leaders, and many local churches, will host the “Break the Silence – Stop the Violence” Crime-walk & Peace Rally on Saturday, September 22nd, 2012 beginning at Calvary Christian Center at 118 N. Richardson St. in Hammond, Louisiana.
“Increasing the awareness of crime in Hammond and to prevent crime in our neighborhoods is one of my top priorities,” said Lemar Marshall, City Councilman District 4.
The event is a community take-back project and will focus on providing several neighborhoods with Neighborhood Watch and crime prevention information in the form of door hangers handed out by community volunteers. The goals of the event are to increase awareness of crime issues in our community, to serve as a call to action for the community and our city leaders, to increase the number of Neighborhood Watch programs in Hammond, and to create a model that can be used throughout Tangipahoa parish.
“Our Neighborhood Watch Program is a proactive approach to crime prevention. It better equips the members of our community to effectively remove or reduce the opportunity of crime.” states Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards. “Partnering with Crime Stoppers in this crusade walk allows us the opportunity to personally share with you who we are and the many benefits of participating in our program.” he continued.
Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa asks that anyone from the community who would like to walk with us to please meet at Calvary Christian Center at 11:30 a.m. the day of the event. Groups will then be divided at noon and will be sent to walk in the Rosewood, Lincoln Park, Magazine, Park, and Washington Street areas. The groups will then walk and meet back at Calvary Christian Center again at 3:00 p.m.to kick-off the Peace Rally. The Peace Rally will be from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. and will offer inspirational and informative messages from local ministers, law enforcement, community members, and other local agencies related to faith, hope, and community crime prevention. There will be live music from the Praise Team of Revision and Beacon Light Baptist church choirs, informational booths, giveaways, and free food and drink.
The event is free and open to the public. It is being sponsored by Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa, a United Way of Southeast Louisiana Partner Agency, and Florida Parishes Bank. More sponsors and donors are needed. Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization and donations are tax deductible.
For more information on how to sponsor or volunteer please contact Jodie Powell-Rohner at 985-634-0590 (tangicrimestoppers@gmail.com) or Tanya Turner at 985-277-2282 (ttturner1@msn.com ).
